Chapter 14

Vivian fumbled with the lock of her door, her keys jingling impatiently in her hand. With a sharp twist, the door finally gave way, and she stepped inside, her arms weighed down by two oversized shopping bags. She nudged the door shut with her hip, sighing in relief as she dropped the bags onto the floor with a heavy thud.

Just then, her phone buzzed loudly from inside her pocket.

“Shit,” she muttered under her breath, pulling it out. The screen flashed *Fiona*. With a resigned groan, she swiped to answer and pressed the phone to her ear as she made her way toward the kitchen.

“Hey girl, you didn’t even let me get home,” she said with a half-smile, already anticipating her best friend’s voice.

“What’s up? Where have you been to? And why aren’t you in school today, huh?” Fiona’s voice came through sharp and familiar, the background filled with the loud chatter of students and the occasional shuffle of footsteps.

Vivian tugged open the refrigerator and gr